Pelfrey helps Mets break slide, beat Brewers 1-0

Jul 1, 2009 - 10:41 PM
By CHRIS JENKINS
AP Sports Writer

MILWAUKEE(AP) -- Instead of the parade of taxis that usually
delivers visiting players to the loading dock entrance at
Milwaukee's Miller Park, the New York Mets rode in together on a
bus from their hotel.

If they haven't been playing as a team lately, they at least
could arrive as one.

Ryan Church couldn't recall ever riding to a game on a team bus
in his career. Francisco Rodriguez said it was "a little weird."

"A little bonding time with everybody," starter Mike Pelfrey
said.

Maybe it was a coincidence, but the Mets went on to break a
season-worst five-game losing streak with a 1-0 victory over the
Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday despite a career-high 12
strikeouts from young Brewers ace Yovani Gallardo.

Mets manager Jerry Manuel wasn't particularly eager to credit
the bus ride, or the previous night's postgame team meeting, as
essential motivational techniques. After all, the next day's
starter is allowed to leave the game early - so Pelfrey wasn't
even at Manuel's clear-the-air session that lasted 28 minutes
Tuesday night.

"I told him, 'If he'd been at the meeting, he would have thrown
a no-hitter,"' Manuel joked.

Pelfrey (6-3) gave up six hits and two walks in 7 2-3 innings,
and Ryan Church came through with an RBI single in the sixth as
the Mets stopped a five-game losing streak and avoided a series
sweep by the Brewers.

"It was big, especially going against Gallardo," Pelfrey said.
"He's one of the best pitchers in the league. I almost had to be
perfect."

The Brewers completed a 5-4 homestand and will travel to Chicago
for a four-game series against the Cubs beginning Thursday.

"It was a good homestand, but today was a bit of a downer,"
Brewers manager Ken Macha said. "We'll take two out of three
against the Mets and Giants."

Pelfrey allowed a single and a walk with two outs in the eighth,
but Sean Green got J.J Hardy to ground into a forceout at third.
Rodriguez pitched the ninth, allowing a leadoff single to Braun
before retiring the side for his 21st save.

New York (38-39), which backed Pelfrey with a pair of double
plays, are without injured stars Carlos Beltran (knee), Jose
Reyes (calf, hamstring) and Carlos Delgado (hip). The Mets were
coming off a 9-18 record in June, their worst month in nearly
six years, and they were 1-4 in Pelfrey's June starts.

Gallardo's 12 strikeouts were the most by a pitcher against the
Mets since John Smoltz struck out 15 for the Braves on April 10,
2005, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. The Mets also won
that game, 6-1.

It was a frustrating afternoon all around for David Wright, who
went 0 for 4 with three strikeouts. Wright slammed his glove
into the bench after making a throwing error in the second
inning, then flung his helmet to the ground after taking a
called strike three in the third.

Wright originally was to have a day off but lobbied his way back
into the lineup.

"He's still part of the leadership, and they need to see him out
there like that," Manuel said. "After what we've kind of
struggled with, it's important that we see him out there."

Wright said he always would prefer to play.

"There's some days where he tell you you're not playing, and
there's some days where he kind of asks you," Wright said.

The Mets finally broke through in the sixth when Luis Castillo
led off with a ground-rule double, losing a shot at a triple
when a woman wearing a Hardy T-shirt fell onto the field trying
to reach for the ball.

Gallardo then struck out Wright. But Church sent a grounder past
the outstretched glove of second baseman Craig Counsell for a
single, scoring Castillo.

Prince Fielder led off the seventh with a single, then went to
second on a balk by Pelfrey - Pelfrey's fifth of the season. But
Fielder was thrown out trying to take third base on a missed
bunt by Corey Hart.

Pelfrey then got Hart to ground out, then struck out Mat Gamel
to end the inning.

Pelfrey acknowledged that he didn't completely understand the
balk rule; he said the umpire called him for stepping off the
side of the rubber instead of stepping straight back.

Still, he joked that he was being picked on.

"I've already got the league lead in balks," Pelfrey said. "I've
already got that secured."

NOTES: Plate umpire Brian O'Nora went to the dugout in the
bottom of the fourth to have his eye looked at by a trainer but
quickly returned. ... Gallardo struck out 11 in a victory over
Pittsburgh on April 29.